Description
Please note: The seller states the bike has never been started under his possession the last 10 years. As such, he will not be providing a cold start video. The seller has also generously offered to cover the shipping costs of the bike to any port in the world.
Additional photos are available here for your perusal.
Built to celebrate Mike the Bike’s comeback triumph at the ’78 Isle of Man TT, the Ducati 900 MHR (Mike Hailwood Replica) was initially produced solely for homolgation purposes. As such, just 200 were built in 1979. But demand was so high that Ducati decided to keep production going, and by the end of the run in 1986 the Italian firm had built approximately 7,100 examples – meaning that even though Ducati originally wanted it to be limited production, it ended up being the best selling bevel-drive twin they ever built.
When the MHR originally debuted, it was basically a 900SS in fancy clothing, emulating Hailwood’s bike that had been adorned in the privateer livery of Sports Motor Cycles out of Manchester, England. Ducati themselves say it was built for “hard-core Ducatisti” as it “was not even fitted with an electric starter.” But just like the average human, as the bike got older, it got softer.
By 1985 (the last update to the series), the motor was bored out to 973cc and the model name got changed to MHR Mille as a result. Output numbers went up – 76 horsepower and 62 pound-feet of torque, but it also got Brembo brakes, Conti exhaust, an electric starter, different gauges, folding foot pegs with rubber inserts, adjustable Verlicchi clipons, and more. Between ’85 and ’86, approximately 1,100 MHR Milles were built, and they were the last bevel-drive twins to come from Ducati. For more on the MHR, check out this article on Motorcycle Classics.
This example is VIN: ZDM1000R100842; Engine: ZDM10001101048. The seller purchased the bike 10 years ago from JBE Exports. He is selling to reduce his collection and states, “Imported from Japan many years ago, has been in my museum (Australian Motorcycle Museum) and collection for approx 10 years. The bike was sold new in Japan and has the Japanese speed indicator light in the speedo.”
The odometer shows 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles).
Maintenance:
The seller reports no recent maintenance and states, “Bike has original tyres which are showing signs of perishing.”
Modifications:
According to the seller the bike is stock.
It is riding on original Michelin M48 tires.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located in Brisbane, Australia, this Ducati is offered on a Bill of Sale only. Have any MHR Mille stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!